In a demonstration of the city’s burgeoning talent in the local music scene, a handful of Airdrie artists have been nominated for the 2023 YYC Music Awards.
Airdronians Brandon Lorenzo, Steve Jevne, and Kyle McKearney have all received nods for certain accolades this year.
The awards ceremony will be held Sept. 24 at the Grey Eagle Casino in Tsuut’ina Nation, on the west edge of Calgary.
Lorenzo is up for the people’s choice award, and supporters have a chance until Aug. 7 to cast their vote for his single, ‘You Set the Bar’.
Jevne's heartwarming track ‘Best Friends Fall In Love’ has earned him a nomination for country recording of the year.
However, it is McKearney who stands out in 2023, with an impressive five nominations across various categories. The songwriter has been nominated for solo artist of the year, country recording of the year (and single of the year) for ‘Mercy’, music video of the year, and songwriter of the year for ‘Whispering Pines.’
In an interview with the Airdrie City View, McKearney expressed his excitement and gratitude for the nominations.
"It's great – it's just nice to see everybody come together and celebrate each other," the folk/roots artist said.
‘Mercy’, one of McKearney's nominated songs, has resonated deeply with audiences, earning nominations in both the country recording of the year and single of the year categories.
McKearney revealed the inspiration for the song came unexpectedly.
"That song is actually something that I had and forgot about,” he said. “I had it on my voice memos and then just kind of left it and never finished it and forgot about it. A year later I went back and said, 'Man, that's really good,' so I wrote it and put it on the record."
Additionally he said ‘Whispering Pines,’ which earned McKearney nominations for songwriter of the year and music video of the year, carries a deeply personal meaning.
The song captures the loneliness he felt while being apart from his loved ones, a sentiment that resonates with many listeners.
"That was a real-life story, so I was working up north in a kind of isolated territory and I was working a strange shift like 3 a.m to 8 a.m, and then I would work 4 p.m to 8 p.m, so it was a split shift in the middle of the morning, and I was away from my family for two weeks at a time," said McKearney.
As a solo artist, McKearney faces the challenge of balancing his individual artistry with collaborations. He attributes his ability to manage this delicate balance to his early exposure to music and touring.
"It's tough for sure, but my kids are very adaptable,” he said. “I got to do it when I was a kid; my dad is a musician. I was born on the road, I was doing this when I was very young, just travelling around and I loved it. It was fun to be a part of the gang. I feel like I got cultured very early because of it. We just take them with us most of the time.”
Other locals recognized
Former Airdrie resident Jordie Potekal's Calgary-based band NIKU is also up for a YYC Music Award this year, in the alternative recording of the year category.
Meanwhile, Balzac-based Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra also received a nomination, for the community ensemble of the year.
The Sept. 24 awards ceremony promises to be a night of celebration for all of Airdrie’s nominees, showcasing the talent and diversity of the local music community.
With their remarkable talent and recognition at the YYC Music Awards, McKearney, Jevne, and Lorenzo continue to make Airdrie proud and stand as shining examples of the city's vibrant music scene.
